Fishing reel



Oct, 19, 1943. H. F. MAYNES 2,331,919

FISHING REEL Filed April 2, 1941 s She ets-Sheet 1 64- M v &\\

I ENTOR Hyl? fi aynes, I @4 44, M QQAAJTgv aim RNEYS Oct.19,1943. H AYQES 2,331,919

FISHING REEL Filed April 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NTOR Hyga F'T fayms, 62w, WW7

, ATTORNEYS Och 1943. H..F. MAYNES -2,331,919 FISHING REEL Filed April 2, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet a raw ATT NEYS mmww ym F.-

Patented Oct. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES.

FISHING REEL Hyla F. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Emma C. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1941, Serial No. 386,508

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to fishing reels and contemplates a rigid frame structure including end members provided with a removable cover plate housing the drive means gearing the rotatable handle to the winding spool, and, in

the case of a reel having line feeding means such as a level wind shaft, a removable cover plate housing the gearing connecting the line feeding means to the spool for actuation by and upon rotation of the latter. According to the invention the bearings for the spindle of the spool are rigid with the frame end members, as distinguished from the cover plates, thereby enabling accurate alignment of the bearings without requiring accurately fitted cover plates. The bearings extend beyond the portions of the spool shaft upon which the drive gears are mounted, and by this arrangement may also be utilized to engage caps for securing the cover plates.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, including those arising from the novel and improved arrangements of the several parts, will become apparent from the following description of the typical embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reel with parts thereof broken away and appearing in horizontal section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the reel with the handle carrying cover plate removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a view of the inner side of the said cover plate;

Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite end of the reel with its cover plate removed;

Fig. 5 is a view of the last mentioned cover plate;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 'l-! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the central portion of the cover plate and the associated parts at one end of the reel;

Fig. 9 is an end view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modified structure;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a reel of further modified construction, with parts thereof broken away and appearing in horizontal section;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the reel of Fig. 10 with the handle carrying cover plate removed therefrom;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line I2--l2 of Fig, 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along line l3-l3 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a still further modified construction.

As shown in the drawings, the reel has a frame comprising end members H and I2 connected by pillars H3. The latter may be riveted to one end member and secured by screws M to the other, providing a rigid structure. Secured to the lowermost pillars is a saddle 15 for attaching the reel to a fishing rod.

Mounted in the frame between the end members is a winding spool is for fishing line, having a spindle ll projecting through the end members and having a journal portion l8 adjacent the end member H and a journal portion l9 adjacent the end member l2.

The end members are preferably die-cast, and secured thereto, preferably by being die-cast as inserts therein, are members 21 and 22 projecting outwardly from end members H and [2, respectively. The members 2| and 22 have bearing parts 23 and 24, respectively, receiving the journal portions l8 and i9 of the spindle and projecting through apertures in cover plates 25 and 26, respectively, which are removably secured to the end members by caps which are screw threaded to the bearing parts 23 and 24.

Secured to the spindle between the outer face of the end member H and the bearing part 23, and housed in a substantially tubular part of the member 2 l, is a pinion 2l meshing with a drive gear 28. The latter is mounted for rotation on a stub shaft or pin 29 carried by end member I I, preferably by being die-cast as an insert therein. Extending through an aperture in the cover plate 25 and through a ferrule 3| is a tubular extension 32 from the gear 28, and to the end of extension 32 a cap screw and thrust bearing 33 secure a winding handle 34 having finger grips 3 5.

The end member H has a locating pin 36 for registry with an opening 31 in the cover plate 25. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tubular portion of member 2| which houses the pinion 21 and the bearing portion 23 are cut away as indicated at 38 in Fig. 2 to permit meshing of the gear and pinion and to allow the gear to be moved axially of the pin 29 into and out of engagementwith the pinion. Upon removal of the cap which holds cover 25 in place, the cover, gear 28, and handle 34 are removable as a unit from the reel.

Extending substantially parallel to the axis of the spool for feeding line evenly thereto, and journaled in bearings ii in the end members, 'is a level wind shaft 42. The latter has a pinion 43 housed between end member l2 and cover plate 26. A rack 44 meshing with the pinion has bearing parts 45 slidingly engaging the outer surface of a double or reversely threaded screw 46 whose ends are journaled for rotation in bearings 4'! carried by the end member l2. The portion of the rack 44 having the bearing parts 45 is formed in two sections, as shown in Fig. 6, which may be secured together over the screw 46 by fasteners 48. Within bores in the parts 45 are disposed the substantially cylindrical shanks 49 of pawls which engage the threads of the screw so that-upon rotation of the latter the rack will be reciprocated.

For closing the outer ends of the bores, to retain the pawls 5! therein, there is provided on the rack a slide 52. The slide, normally held by friction, may be shifted endwise to uncover either bore to permit removal or replacement of a pawl. As the latter are subjected to considerable Wear, spares are provided in recesses 53 in the end member l2, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. A screw fastened retainer 54 holds the paw-ls against accidental displacement and may be turned about its screw fastener to effect their removal when desired.

Secured to the reversely threaded screw 48 is a worm Wheel 61 mes-hing with -a worm -62 on the spindle H. The worm is disposed in a substantially tubular part of the member 22 between the outer face of the end member 12 and the bearing part :24, asshown in Fig. .6.

Carried by the pindle adjacent the inner face of the end member I2 is a serrated wheel '64 en- !gageable by a clicker 65. The latter is resiliently held by a spring 66 carried by the end member,

and is mounted on a pin 52! shiftable, radially of the spindle, by a finger piece 68 to carry the clicker into or out of engagement with the serrated wheel. A slot 69 for passing the element 53 is formed in the cover 26.

"The cove-r plate 26 shown in Fig. 6 is preferably formed of spring metal, thereby to serve as a retainer for the cap .ll which is screw threaded to the bearing part 24,. The cap car-- ries a thrust bearing 12 for the spindle and is rotatably secured to a ferrule 13 on the cover plate by a non-circular spring ring 14.

cover plate 25 may also be formed of metal and may be provided with a cap as just described. However, if the .cover plates are formed of a less resilient material, such as of a molded plastic, the cap structure is preferably as shown in Fig. :8. There the cover plate 25 has rotatably connected thereto a ring screw threaded to the bearing Part 23 of the member 21, and to adjust the thrust bearing 1.2, a cap 10 is screw threaded to the ring 15. A non-circular spring ring 16 frictionally holds the cap against accidental turning,

It will be understood that in operation turning of the handle .34 will, by reason of the drive through gear 2.8 and pinion 21, effect a rotation .of the spool it, and this rotating movement will be transmitted, at a reduced rate, through the worm 52 and wheel 51 to the screw 45. ter will effect reciprocation of the rack 44 which will in turn act through pinion 43 to oscillate the level wind shaft 32. Line passing over the latter .will thereby be gu ded evenly .onto the rotating winding spool in a manner well known in the art.

Removal of the cover plates and 26 for cleaning .or oiling the drive mechanism, -or for other purposes, will not disturb the relationship .of the spool, spindle and bearings as in the case .of bearings carried by the cover plates, and elimi- The latnates the necessity for very accurately fitting the cover plates.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the reversely threaded screw, indicated by numeral 8|, is of substantially hour-glass form since the rack which engages the level wind shaft pinion 42 is pivoted by a screw 83 to the end member I2, and hence, oscillates angularly instead of reciprocating as does the rack 44 in the first described embodiment of the invention. The operation is substantially the same, however, the spindle of the spool having a worm which rotates worm wheel 8! affixed to th reversely threaded screw 8|, and the rotation of the latter imparting an angular oscillation to the rack 82 and pinion.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, the pillars connecting the end members H and I2 comprise opposed extensions 9| integrally formed upon the end members and joined bydoublescrew threaded fasteners 52, with a ferrule telescoping over the adjacent ends of each pair of the opposed projections. This structure is covered by my Patent No. 2,232,253 issued February 18, 1941.

As shown in Fig. 10, the extensions 9| may taper from shoulders .94 to the .ends thereof, and the bore .of the ferrule 9.3 near the ends thereof may have .a corresponding taper. This will result, when the end members are assembled, in the extensions 9.! becoming tightly wedged in the fer-rule, rendering the frame structure very rigid.

The ferrules of the two lower pillars may be recessed as shown in ,Fig. 13 to receive the saddle [.5 by which the reel is .attachable to a fishing rod. The saddle may be secured to these pillars by U-shaped rivets .96 whose riveted heads may be countersimk into the saddle, and whose bight portions lie in grooves 9-! formed in the ferrules.

With the mode of connecting the end members employed in the structure shown in Figs. 10 to 13, disassembly of the frame is very difficult, .and to enable easy .removal of the spool 16 from the fr me the end member ii is provided with an opening of slightly larger diameter than the .flanges of the spool so that the latter may pass .therethrough, and the end member is also provided with a separate central portion 98 adapted to close the opening. This central part 9 8 .of the end member has ears 59 through which fasteners .IIH extend into the end member proper, I].

Access to the fasteners IDI is obtained by removing the cover plate 25, and when these fasteners have been removed the part 9.8, together with the spindle bearin supporting member 2i carried thereby, and the spool are removable .as a unit from the frame.

To enable removal of the level wind shaft 42 the .end member I] is provided with an opening large enough to pass theshaft. The opening normally is .closed by a bearing [.03 which may be formed integrally with and is removable with the central part 98.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 14, opposed tapered projections I 03 are formed on the .end members H .and J2, and over each pair of these projections telescopes a pillar member I0 having the openings in its end portions tapered complementa-rily to the projections, and preferably having its extremities flared outwardly as indicated at H35 and seating in recesses formed in the end members. Double screw threaded fasteners I106 join the projections to the member 184, the assembly being made inaccordance W-itlrmy prior Patent No. 2,232,253. The saddle '15 may be secured to the lower pillar members (one of which is illustrated in Fig. 14) by screws 101.

It will be understood that the structures herein shown and described are merely illustrative of the inventive principles involved and may be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fishing reel, a frame including an end member and a winding spool mounted on the frame to one side of the end member, a level wind shaft journaled in the frame with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the spool, an extension from the end member on the side thereof opposite from the spool having a bearing part, the spool having a spindle with a journal portion in said bearing part, a worm on the spindle between the bearing and said end member, a double threaded screw having a worm wheel engaging said worm, a rack and means engaging between the rack and the threads of said screw whereby the rack is oscillated by the screw upon rotation of the latter, pinion means meshing with said rack for imparting oscillatory motion to the level wind shaft, and a cOVer Over said end member housing said worm, worm wheel, screw, rack and pinion means, and means engaging said bearing part for securing the cover.

2. In a fishing reel, a frame and a winding spool mounted therein, a level wind shaft journaled in said frame with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axi of the spool, a reversely threaded screw whose axis of rotation is in a plane substantially normal to said axes of the spool and level wind shaft, drive means between said spool and said screw whereby the screw is rotated upon rotation of the spool, a member pivoted to the frame and engaging the reversely threaded screw for oscillation about its pivot upon rotation of the screw, said member having an arcuate rack portion, and pinion means associating said arcuate rack portion and level wind shaft for transmitting oscillatory movement to the latter.

3. In a fishing reel, a frame and a winding spool mounted therein, a level wind shaft journaled in said frame with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the spool, a reversely threaded screw whose axis of rotation is in a plane substantially normal to said axes of the spool and level wind shaft, a member pivoted to the frame and engaging the reversely threaded screw for oscillation about its pivot upon rotation of the screw, said member having an arcuate rack portion, pinion means associating said arcuate rack portion and level wind shaft for transmitting oscillatory movement to the latter, and means for rotating the reversely threaded screw upon rotation of the spool.

4. In a fishing reel, a frame including an end member and a winding spool mounted on the frame to one side of the end member, a level wind shaft journaled in the frame with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the spool, an extension from the end member on the side thereof opposite from the spool and having a bearing part, the spool having a spindle with a journal portion in said bearing part, a worm on the spindle between the bearing and end member, a double threaded screw having a worm wheel engaging said Worm, a rack having a bearing portion slidably enga ing the screw for reciprocation thereon, a pawl in a recess in said bearing portion for engaging the threads of the screw, a movable closure on the rack for said recess for retaining the pawl therein, and pinion means meshing with said rack for imparting oscillatory motion to said level wind shaft, the rack being movable about the axis of rotation of the screw out of engagement with said pinion means.

'5. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member, a cover plate mounted on the end member and provided with an aperture, a winding pool having a journal portion extending therefrom and a gear element between the spool and aid journal portion, an extension from said end member having a bearing for said journal portion and a portion connecting the latter to the end member, a member disposed between the end member and the cover plate in meshing engagement with said gear element, and a thrust bearing secured to the cover plate, being mounted in the aperture thereof and being engageable with the end of said journal portion.

6. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member, a cover plate mounted on the end member and provided with an aperture, a winding spool having a journal portion extending therefrom and a gear element between the spool and said journal portion, an extension from said end member having a bearing for said journal portion and a portion connecting the latter to the end member, a member disposed between the end member and cover plate in meshing engagement with said gear element, anda thrust bearing for engagement with the end of said journal portion, said thrust bearing being adjustably mounted upon said extension and being secured for rotation upon the cover plate, extending through said aperture therein.

7. In a fishin reel, a frame having an end member, a resilient cover plate'removably mounted on the end member and provided with an aperture, a winding spool having a journal portion extending therefrom and a gear element between the spool and said journal-portion, an extension from said end member having a bearing for said journal portion and a portion connecting the latter to the end member, a member disposed between the end member and cover plate in meshing engagement with said gear element, and a thrust bearing engageable with the end of the journal portion, said thrust bearing being adjustably screw threaded upon said extension and rotatably mounted in the aperture of said resilient cover member, the resilience of the latter permittin the thrust bearing in any adjusted position to secure it to the end member.

8. In a fishing reel, a pair of end members and a plurality of pillars therebetween, said pillars comprising opposed projections formed integrally upon each end member, said projections being tapered, ferrules having complementarily tapered bores telescoped over the adjacent ends of opposed projections, and double screw threaded fasteners extending into and connecting opposed projections.

9. In a fishing reel having an end member and a removable cover plate therefor, drive means including a detachable pawl disposed between said end member and cover plate, said drive means being accessible to permit detachment of the pawl upon removal of the cover plate, said end member having a recess for a spare pawl accessible upon removal of said cover plate, and

means releasably carried by said end member for retaining. aspare pawl in said recess.

10-. In a fishing reel having an end member and a removable cover plate therefor, drive means including a detachable pawl disposed between said end member and cover plate, said drive means being accessible to permit detachment of the pawl upon removal of the cover plate, said end member having a pair of recesses for spare pawIs accessible. upon removal of said cover plate, a closure for said; recesses and a fastener between said recesses pivoting said closure for swinging movement to cover or uncover said recesses.

11. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member, a removable and resilient. cover plate for the end member, the end member having, a projection, a spindle extending through the projection, and a thrust bearing adjustably screw threaded on said projection and mounted. for rotation on the cover plate, the thrust bearing in the adjusted positions thereof holding the cover plate against the end member by reason of the resilience of said cover plate.

12. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member provided with a projection, a spindle journaled by the projection, a cover plate for the end member having an aperture through which said projection extends, an element rotatably mounted in said aperture, said element having a portion for abutment with said cover member and being screw threaded to the projection for removably securing the cover plate to the end member, and a thrust bearing part for the spindle carried by said element.

13. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member provided with a projection, a spindle extending through the projection, a cover plate for the end member, an element rotatably mounted upon the cover plate and screw threaded to the projection for securing the cover plate to said end member, and a thrust bearing for the spindle adjustably screw threaded to said element.

14. In a fishing reel, a frame having a pair of end members and a plurality of pillars therebetween, a spool disposed between said end members, said pillars comprising projections formed integrally upon each end member, said projections being tapered, ferrules having complementarily tapered bores telescoped over the adjacent ends of opposed projections, double screw threaded fasteners extending into and connecting opposed projections, one of said end members having an opening therethrough sufiiciently large to pass said spool and an element detachably secured over said opening and carrying a bearing member for journalling the adjacent end of the spool.

15. In a fishing reel, a frame having an end member, a removable and resilient cover plate mounted on the end member and provided with an aperture, a winding spool and a spindle therefor, said spindle having a journal portion, a gear element on the spindle between the winding spool and said journal portion, a bearing member carried by said end member, said bearing member having projecting from the end member a tubular portion housing said gear element anda bearing portion receiving the journal portion of the spindle, said bearing portion extending through the aperture in the cover plate, a second gear element housed between said end member and cover plate and in meshing engagement with the first mentioned gear element, said tubular portion being cut away to permit such meshing engagement, and a. thrust bearing adjustably screw threaded onto said bearing portion and mounted for rotation in said aperture, said thrust bearing being engageable with the end of said spindle and having a portion thereof engageable against the cover'plate to secure the same against the end member in various adjusted positions of the thrust bearing by reason of the resilience of said cover plate.

HYLA F. MAYNES. 

